HAL Rudra

Rudra
HAL Rudra of Indian Army in flight
Role	Attack helicopter Type of aircraft
National origin	India
Manufacturer	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Design group	Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre[1]
First flight	16 August 2007
Introduction	2012
Status	In service
Primary users	Indian Army Indian Air Force
Produced	2007-present
Number built	91 (75 on order)
Developed from	HAL Dhruv

The HAL Rudra (Sanskrit - Roaring)^[2] also known as ALH-WSI, is an armed version of the HAL Dhruv utility helicopter which is designed and produced by the Indian aerospace manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The Rudra was developed in parallel to the HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), a more extensive attack helicopter developed from the Dhruv. Extensive changes from the Dhruv were avoided to produce the Rudra with the express purpose of providing an indigenous armed helicopter faster than the LCH programme could do so. The Mark III variant features the sensors and mission equipment, but lacked weaponry; the Rudra Mark IV is provisioned with various armaments. The Rudra is equipped with forward looking infrared (FLIR), day-and-night optical cameras, and a Thermal Imaging Sights Interface; armed models feature a 20 mm turret gun, 70 mm rocket pods, anti-tank guided missiles and air-to-air missiles.^[3][4] Work on the programme started in December 1998, and the prototype Rudra conducted its maiden flight on 16 August 2007.

Between 2011 and 2013, extensive flight testing of the Rudra took place, during which it was proved to have largely fulfilled or surpassed set requirements. Its primary customer is the Indian Army, who took delivery of the first pair of Rudra helicopters in February 2013, the same month in which the type attained Initial Operational Clearance (IOC).^[5] In addition to the Indian Army, both the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy have taken interest in the type.